By Evan Minsker
on January 21, 2015 at 4:11 p.m. EST

Here's a reunion album you probably weren't expecting in 2015: Tacoma, Washington garage rock legends the Sonics have announced their first new studio album since 1967. This Is the Sonics is out March 31 via their own imprint, Revox. That's their single "Bad Betty" above.

By Tom Breihan
on January 5, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. EST

UPDATE: The New Original Sonic Sound album actually came out in 2004. This edition is a reissue.(Another update: It was originally released in 2000, then again in 2004.)

Unhinged early-60s Tacoma, Washington garage-punk noisemakers the Sonics have served as an inspiration for decades of rock bands, from the Pacific Northwest and otherwise. Now, a group of the band's stylistic descendants is paying the Sonics their just due by releasing an entire album of Sonics covers.

By Tom Breihan
on January 15, 2009 at 12:40 p.m. EST

The 2009 SXSW Music Festival, going down March 18-22 in Austin, Texas announced its first round of bands last week, and now they've expanded that lineup to the point where it now takes like half an hour just to read the names of all the bands participating. Some observations based on that expanded list:

1) Still only two "crystal" bands. However, we're looking at a grand total of nine "black" bands! 10 if you include BLK JKS! So it turns out black, not crystal, is the new wolf. Adjust your blog witticisms accordingly.2) Most intriguing inclusions: Throat-shredding Seattle garage-rock originators the Sonics, who played a couple of reunion shows over the last two years but whose place on this bill ranks as a very, very welcome surprise. Also, reunited Scottish indie pop originators the Vaselines!3) Most WTF inclusion: Internet-beloved American Idol castoff and vaguely British-sounding emo warbler Josiah Leming, whose show is going to be absolutely impossible to get into.4) Best band name: London's Fuckshovel5) Worst band name: Austin's the Golden Arm Trio Does DUKE!, inexcusable even if it is a Duke Ellington tribute.6) Band who at least isn't in it to get laid: Austin's Baby Dick7) Band who, judging by their name, will only be fun if we're obliteratingly drunk: Big Sam's Funky Nation8) Band whose name is only remotely acceptable if it's some sort of commentary on the secret conservative streak on 90s alt-rock radio: Bushwalla9) Bands that are either named after comedians or are actual singing comedians, hopefully the former: Margaret Cho, Dananananaykroyd 10) Band who, surprisingly enough, still exists as something other than a logo on Bam Margera's skully: CKY